Months flew by in the Underground, the winter solstice came and went, and yet the Princess Sarah remained in her enchanted sleep. A funeral had been held (not quite the grand celebration which was expected by the Kingdom) and yet it had caused unease. How is one to hold a funeral for a girl who still lives and breaths?

Hope still remained for the people as, according to both medical and magical practitioners, the Princess was very much alive. Sometimes she would stir a little, or her lips would curl in a faint, knowing smile. Perhaps it was the flickering light of the candle, but some even claimed to have seen her eyelids fluttering.

Many a foolish young male had grown infatuated at the site of the young Princess lying in her glass coffin, presuming she would be meek and gentle in real life as she was in sleep. Because of this they attempted to wake the girl by venturing to the Castle beyond the Goblin City which lay within the wild lands to slay the horrific Goblin King and free her of her curse but sadly for them, they all perished within the Labyrinth's walls.

As for the Goblin King, he had not been seen by mortal eye since the night his beloved had fallen into her deathlike state, yet any maid working in King Robert's castle could tell you that the Princess Sarah had a constant watcher. A single white owl.

Initially, Irene had suspected Robert. Grief shows itself in mysterious ways and although frowned upon, it was not unknown for men to become infatuated with their daughters. There wasn't much to go by, just enough to cause a slight feeling of dread to settle over the woman.

Occasionally one side of the bed was creased, as if someone else had been lying there. Sometimes, she would visit her at night, and the next morning there would be a fresh vase of flowers by her bedside, despite the head maid insisting no-one had been in after she locked the door.

It wasn't until one day, when Irene walked in to see her step-daughter's painted lips heavily smudged, that she had decided to take action.

She began to wear the only key to the room on a chain around her neck. She would check on the girl when ever she had the chance. She had forbidden Robert or any man to see the girl without her presence.

Karen rolled onto her side trying to get some sleep. Yes, initially she had suspected Robert, but if Robert was here, snoring next to her in bed, then who was it she could hear in the next room?

Irene drew a shawl around her shoulder's as her feet padded along the cold stone floor. She reached the heavy, wooden door, which was still locked, with the icy cold key still hung around her neck... And a faint, white, iridescent glow flickering from under the crack around the door.

Irene's trembling finger's forced the key into the lock. Had the window's been shut? Could someone have possibly climbed up the battlements?

Irene gave a grunt as she shoved the door open, staggering into the room to survey the possible damage.

"Goblin King." It wasn't even said in a shocked manner. Who else could have been getting in and out of a locked room with such ease?

Dark smudged eyes briefly surveyed the Lady Irene from the sunken hollows of the wild King's face before flicking back to the girl, he lay, sprawled next to.

"You don't look well. Have you been getting enough sleep?" Irene said politely as she cautiously approached the bed. She had to be cautious. It was impossible to gauge his mood and they'd only just gotten rid of the goat. However, Phillip was still a pig. In the literal sense of course.

The Goblin King barked a laugh out, stroking the Princess Sarah's hair.

"My darling has been doing the sleeping for both of us I fear. Do you think she remembers me?" He asked, twirling a glowing sphere between gloved fingertips. His voice was surprisingly hoarse but it was hard to tell if it was underuse or overuse.

Irene shrugged wrapping the shawl closer.

"She is asleep, whether she remembers you or not is impossible to guess."

The Goblin King ran a long finger down the curve of her face.

"I remember." He whispered roughly, "I remember her laugh, her smile. The way she felt in my arms. The taste she left on my lips. I haven't been able to see into her dreams since the summer solstice."

Irene shuffled her bare feet uncomfortably, wondering if there was a way she could call a guard without drawing to much attention.

"Quite. Have you found what has put her in this state?"

The flittering crystal barely illuminated the room, viciously stretching the shadows across his face, on which sat a grotesquely proud grin.

"A dwarf."

Irene shuddered and waited for him to evaluate but he didn't.

"I see."

The Wildling King had gone back to staring at her step-daughter, possessively brushing his thumb against the insides of her wrists. Irene shiftily eyed the rope that would bring the guards running if she tugged on it, perhaps if she leapt towards it, the King wouldn't be fast enough to stop her. Irene shifted her feet, preparing to make a bolt for it.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." The King warned in a sing-song voice. "I had one of my subjects gnaw through that rope months ago."

Irene sighed hopelessly.

"Then why are you here? To whisk our Princess away?"

"Oh no, no, no, no, no." He tutted, shaking his head as if she was a small child who had just failed a test. "I am here to make sure My Princess doesn't forget."

With that he gentle dropped the crystal he had been whirling back and forth against the Princesses forehead.

The room was thrown into darkness.

"Sleep well my precious, and dream beautiful dreams about me."

By the time Irene's eye adjusted, he was long gone. The only evidence of him even being there was the faint trail of silver glittering across the girl's pillow and a long, white feather lovingly tucked in her hair.


A/N: It's been a while.

Not that I'm all that sorry.

Really the only reason I'm here is because I had a crazy dream in which a reader punched me in the stomach and told me my account was suspended until I finished this story.

You'll see the next update whenever.